India and Pakistan pulled back from the precipice of yet another set back to bilateral ties with the two countries approving the pending assignment visas for diplomats and other staff members after two years of strife over the issue. India had already started to pull out its staff members from Islamabad, as Pakistan delayed visas to their replacements, when the two countries finally arrived at an agreement to resolve the issue, as reported by TOI on June 6. The visa approvals were granted by both countries simultaneously on Wednesday through an exchange of passports. The development will allow the Indian and Pakistani missions, at least for the time begin, to function normally as per the sanctioned strength after ties were downgraded last year and is also perhaps a sign that the two countries don't want ties to deteriorate further. The visa approvals will allow about 25-30 Indian officials to join work in Islamabad. India too granted visas to many Pakistani officials in response. Both countries had accused each other of delaying visas to these officials. Barring a couple of occasions, pakistan apparently had not been issuing visas to Indian officials for 2 years. An assignment visa allows diplomats and foreign government officials to perform their duties on behalf of their national government. Nine people were killed after the car they were travelling in collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction in Anand district of Gujarat on wednesday. Six of the deceased, including two kids, belonged to the same family. All the deceased five men, two women a boy and girl were residents. After attending a function in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, they were returning to Bhavnagar when the speeding truck hit their car. All the occupants were killed on the spot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an exgratia aid of Rs 2 lakh each to the kind of the deceased.
